Phalodi in Jodhpur recorded a maximum temperature of 51 degrees Celsius yesterday - the highest temperature recorded in the country since 1956.

HIGHLIGHTS

Mercury touched a record high of 51 degrees in Phalodi

Condition to remain same for next 10 days

Cyclonic rains bring relief in eastern parts

Phalodi in Jodhpur set a heat record at an unbelievable 51 degrees Celsius even as entire north and west India continues to reel under intense heat, and the bad news is that the condition is likely to remain the same for the coming 10 days, the weather department said.

While the mercury touched a high of 47 degrees Celsius in Delhi on Wednesday, record temperatures were seen across Rajasthan yesterday. As far as the national capital is concerned, there was marginal relief today as the temperatures fell below 45 degrees due to eastern winds. The temperature is expected to remain below 45 degrees Celsius for another couple of days.

Record-shattering heat

Phalodi in Jodhpur recorded a maximum temperature of 51 degrees Celsius yesterday - the highest temperature recorded in the country since 1956. Jaipur was sizzling at 46.5 degrees Celsius. Churu boiled at 50.2 degrees Celsius, seven degree above average.

Barmer and Jaisalmer were also hot at 49.5 and 49 degrees Celsius respectively, while Bikaner was scorching at 49.5 degrees and Sri Ganganagar at 49.1 degrees.

"Heatwave is intense in Rajasthan, Delhi, MP, Haryana and UP. Severe heatwave conditions will prevail in north, west India and central India for next 10 days. Intense heat is due to warm air from west and absence of any weather system," LS Rathore, DG, India Meteorological Department, said.

The met department has issued a "red alert" and "severe heat wave" warning for east and west Rajasthan, east and west Madhya Pradesh, Saurashtra and Kutch and the Gujarat region.

Jammu and Kashmir also feels the heat

While the north and west India is facing the brunt of a severe heat wave, temperatures are also soaring in the Kashmir Valley but the situation is not as bad as Rajasthan or Delhi. The temperature is hovering around 43 degrees Celsius in Jammu.

However, Srinagar recorded a pleasant 31 degrees Celsius on today. The valley has witnessed a steady rise in the number of tourists in April and May as people from down north and western parts of the country seek a getaway from the searing heat.

What's causing the intense heat?

Hot westerlies blowing from Pakistan towards Rajasthan and Gujarat has made matters worse. Pakistan is facing the brunt, so much so that authorities in Karachi are bracing for the worst. In 2015, the heatwave killed over 1,300 people in the neighbouring country.

Rain relief in the east

In contrast to the scorching heat in north and west India, coastal Andhra and Odisha are receiving heavy rainfall due to cyclone Roanu, which currently stationed in Bay of Bengal. The cyclone is expected to move further towards Bangladesh which is likely to bring in rains in the interior parts of Odisha, West Bengal, Jharkhand and the northeast.

The cyclonic storm is also likely to bring in some relief in the gangetic plains of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, the region which has been witnessing extreme heat this summer.